Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
Federal - ISED (Nventure / NACCA in southern Ontario) · Up to $50,000
Microloans of up to $50,000 for women entrepreneurs. In southern Ontario (including the GTA / Markham) apply through Nventure or NACCA (Indigenous women). Loan, not a grant. Published amount: Up to $50,000. Best for: Women entrepreneurs needing up to $50K to start or grow. This is a loan, not a grant. Administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Official source: Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund.
Criteria
| Who qualifies |
|
|---|---|
| Who does not |
|
| Amount | Up to $50,000 |
| Rate / repayable | Varies by delivery organization. Repayable: yes (loan / repayable contribution — not a grant). |
| What it funds | Microloans of up to $50,000 for women entrepreneurs. In southern Ontario (including the GTA / Markham) apply through Nventure or NACCA (Indigenous women). Loan, not a grant. Highlights: Up to $50,000 loan; Southern Ontario: Nventure and NACCA; Startups and existing businesses; Not a grant. |
| Intake window | See the official page |
| Region | Southern Ontario (including the GTA / Markham) applies through Nventure or NACCA (Indigenous women), per the catalog. |
| Administrator | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) (Federal - ISED (Nventure / NACCA in southern Ontario)) |
Published highlights
- Up to $50,000 loan
- Southern Ontario: Nventure and NACCA
- Startups and existing businesses
- Not a grant
FAQ
Is this a grant?
No. Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is catalogued as a loan / repayable contribution. Varies by delivery organization Confirm terms on the official page.
Who qualifies in Markham?
Southern Ontario (including the GTA / Markham) applies through Nventure or NACCA (Indigenous women), per the catalog. Qualifies where the published criteria fit: startups and existing businesses; Canadian citizens, permanent residents; aimed at: women; for-profit; available across Canada; women entrepreneurs needing up to $50K to start or grow.
Is there a minimum years in business or employee count?
No minimum years in business in this catalog; no minimum employee count in this catalog. See the official page if a rule is not listed here.
Can newcomers or work-permit holders apply?
The catalog lists Canadian citizens and permanent residents only — work-permit is not in the eligibility list. Do not assume a work-permit newcomer qualifies.
Is this limited to a specific community?
The catalog demographic tags are: women. Self-identification / ownership rules are set by the administrator — see the official page.
Related programs
Eligibility is determined by the government administrator (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), not Markham Office. Amounts, rates, and windows change. Verify every detail on the official page before you apply. Markham Office is an assessment helper only. As of September 2026.